Headlines

Bruna Hamdani says campaign gives hope to her husband © Sabine Papilloud

Amnesty campaign gives hope to hostages in Libya

by Jeremy Allen

December 4, 2009 | 10:43

The wife of one of the Swiss hostages detained in Libya tells Swisster that a campaign by Amnesty International enabling supporters to send messages of hope has deeply touched the detainees and their families. Bruna Hamdani is among volunteers handing out pre-printed postcards on Friday at Geneva train station, while the cards are also available in Bern. A special website devoted to Rachid Hamdani and Max Göldi’s release also allows supporters to send a message via the Internet.

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Science & Tech
	Planes shoot lasers to measure Swiss glacial melt
	December 4, 2009 \| 10:42	by Giles Broom

Science steps up a gear to understand the decline of Switzerland’s glaciers. Swiss geographers at the University of Zurich deploy laser-shooting planes over glaciers to find out more about the melt which...Full story

Society
	Swiss better prepared for megastorms, experts say
	December 4, 2009 \| 10:26	by Jeremy Allen

Weather specialists say Switzerland is better prepared to predict and cope with extreme wind storms than 10 years ago when a deadly low-pressure system called “Lothar” left 14 people dead, caused 600...Full story

Society
	'Dangerous' dog black list revealed in Zurich
	December 4, 2009 \| 09:58	by Marcus Berry

With less than a month to go before a ban on dangerous dogs in Zurich comes into force, the cantonal government issues a list of the breeds affected, which includes the pit bull terrier. Owners of these...Full story

Society
	Bern grapples with expanded beaver population
	December 3, 2009 \| 16:49	by Malcolm Curtis

Farmers in the northern part of the canton of Bern are failing to get along with beavers reintroduced to the agricultural region a dozen years ago. The industrious, semi-aquatic rodents are flourishing...Full story

Society
	Geneva divided over extending vote to foreigners
	December 3, 2009 \| 11:38	by Malcolm Curtis

An advisory body drafting a new constitution for Geneva is divided over how far to go in extending political rights to foreigners who make up almost 40 percent of the canton’s population. A commission...Full story

Society
	Swiss Re braces for climate change challenge
	December 3, 2009 \| 09:15	by Marcus Berry

Reinsurance group Swiss Re places catastrophic events driven by global warming high on the list of “challenges” the industry faces next year and beyond. The group is fielding representatives as part...Full story

Lausanne festival pushes the envelope of discovery
Les Urbaines, a festival dedicated to discovery, invades Lausanne on December 4, 5 and 6. A dozen venues throughout the city, as well as public spaces and even the lake host performances, exhibitions and...

Full storyDecember 3, 2009 | 00:04by Michèle Laird

US management guru promotes 'trust' at IMD
Best-selling American author and motivational speaker Stephen MR Covey is delivering a workshop based on his hit book, "The Speed of Trust", at a symposium next week organized by the IMD business school...

Full storyDecember 2, 2009 | 17:34by Malcolm Curtis

Dubai national holiday brings little joy for Swiss
As Dubai’s debt troubles rock financial markets, the true impact of the property bust in the emirate remains far from clear for western companies, including Swiss corporations with investments in the...

Full storyDecember 2, 2009 | 11:45by Giles Broom

Snow software aids Swiss Olympic alpine team
Experts working with the Swiss team at February's Winter Olympics in Vancouver are using new 3D computer modelling software that can predict snow quality on a slope 24 hours before a race. Scientists in...

Full storyDecember 2, 2009 | 09:32by Jeremy Allen

Right-wing plans ban on free movement of people
The conservative Swiss Democrats party prepare to launch an initiative to halt the free movement of persons between Switzerland the European Union. Secretary-general, Bernhard Hess cites salary dumping,...

Full storyDecember 2, 2009 | 08:44by Marcus Berry

World Bank tax report gives Swiss high marks
A report issued by the World Bank praises Switzerland for its relatively low taxation of businesses, which compares favourably with other similar industrialized countries. But an associated study, conducted...

Full storyDecember 1, 2009 | 15:41by Malcolm Curtis

What’s on: Gospel music, ice rinks and Santa fun
A look at what’s going on over the next few days, including concerts with an Advent theme and the opening of ice rinks in Zurich and Locarno. Saint Nick is the man of the hour in many places, including...

Full storyDecember 1, 2009 | 10:26by Susan Vogel-Misicka

Events firm opens e-shop for Vaud gourmet produce
A new online service set to go live on Tuesday afternoon will allow epicureans to purchase wine, cheese, honey and mustard from local producers in the region of La Côte in canton Vaud. The Route du Vignoble,...

Full storyDecember 1, 2009 | 09:58by Jeremy Allen

Winter forecast predicts good Swiss ski season
A long-range weather forecaster in the UK predicts that precipitation in December will provide plenty of snow in central Europe, especially in the Alps, an outlook that is already looking accurate. A colder-than-average...

Full storyDecember 1, 2009 | 09:11by Marcus Berry

Minaret vote reflects Swiss ‘semi-openness’, expert says
Contrary to stereotypes, Switzerland has more immigrants than other countries normally regarded as immigration havens such as Canada, Australia and the US. A professor from the University of Neuchâtel...

Full storyDecember 1, 2009 | 08:43by Malcolm Curtis

Solar Impulse primed for take off this week
Solar Impulse, a prototype aircraft designed to fly around the world on energy generated by the sun, is set to take off this week for the first time provided weather conditions are stable. Earlier this...

Full storyNovember 30, 2009 | 11:40by Jeremy Allen

WTO summit begins in wake of violent protest
Ministers from around the world are descending on Geneva for the World Trade Organization’s seventh ministerial conference, which gets under way Monday two days after a protest march in the city turns...

Full storyNovember 30, 2009 | 10:25by Malcolm Curtis

Jetman reveals future flying plans
Zooming through the Grand Canyon and formation flying with other jetpackers are among some of the future projects for Fusionman, now known as Jetman, following his failed transcontinental flight on Wednesday...

Full storyNovember 30, 2009 | 09:55by Jeremy Allen

Foreign press slams Swiss after minaret ban
Switzerland’s surprise acceptance of a ban to halt the construction of minarets sends shockwaves reverberating around the world. News of the result makes front page headlines on numerous major publications...

Full storyNovember 30, 2009 | 09:44by Marcus Berry

Voters mobilise for minaret ban referendum
After four years of controversy, political discussion and legal manoeuvring, the public finally votes on Sunday whether to ban the construction of minarets – the distinctive towers on mosques. Some fear...

Full storyNovember 27, 2009 | 11:12by Marcus Berry

'Russian' Lamborghini racer admits to negligence
A 22-year-old, allegedly Russian, man admits to negligent driving without a licence and under the influence, following a collision with a 70-year-old driver on a road outside Geneva. Witnesses say they...

Full storyNovember 27, 2009 | 10:52by Jeremy Allen

Tapping therapy offers help for expats
A healing method practised in Switzerland called EFT can allegedly help solve psychological and physical problems ranging from phobias, low self-esteem and depression to back pain and asthma. Involving...

Full storyNovember 27, 2009 | 09:27by Marianne Burkhardt

Swiss banks hit by concerns over Dubai meltdown
Financial problems in Dubai raise concerns among investors about banks investing in the Middle East emirate, where a real estate bubble has burst, leaving huge debts for lavish resort, commercial and housing...

Full storyNovember 26, 2009 | 17:08by Malcolm Curtis